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102
THE MOUNTAIN CHRISTENING.
(A Legend of The Connecticut.)
How did they manage to busy themselves—
Our sires, in the early plantation days?
Grinding their axes and whittling their helves?
Fishing for salmon and planting maize?
Our sires, in the early plantation days?
Grinding their axes and whittling their helves?
Fishing for salmon and planting maize?
How when the chopping and splitting were done?
How when the corn-fields were planted and hoed?
How when the salmon had ceased to run,
And the bushes were cleared from the old Bay Road?
How when the corn-fields were planted and hoed?
How when the salmon had ceased to run,
And the bushes were cleared from the old Bay Road?
103
They were not men who stood still in their shoes,
Or who clung to their cabins when forests were damp;
So, when labor was finished, they cut the blues
And their sticks for a lively exploring tramp.
Or who clung to their cabins when forests were damp;
So, when labor was finished, they cut the blues
And their sticks for a lively exploring tramp.
'Twas a beautiful morning in June, they say—
Two hundred and twenty years ago,
When armed and equipped for a holiday,
They stood where Connecticut's waters flow,
Two hundred and twenty years ago,
When armed and equipped for a holiday,
They stood where Connecticut's waters flow,
With five upon this side and five upon that,—
Agawam's bravest and hardiest men,
Hailing each other with lusty chat,
That the tall woods caught and tossed over again.
Agawam's bravest and hardiest men,
Hailing each other with lusty chat,
That the tall woods caught and tossed over again.
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Holyoke, the gentle and daring, stood
On the Eastern bank with his trusty four,
And Rowland Thomas, the gallant and good,
Headed the band on the other shore.
On the Eastern bank with his trusty four,
And Rowland Thomas, the gallant and good,
Headed the band on the other shore.
“Due North!” shouted Holyoke and all his men.
“Due North!” answered they on the opposite beach;
And northward they started, the sturdy ten,
With their haversacks filled and a musket each.
“Due North!” answered they on the opposite beach;
And northward they started, the sturdy ten,
With their haversacks filled and a musket each.
The women ran panting to bid them goodbye
And sweet Mary Pynchon was there (I guess),
With a sigh in her throat and a tear in her eye
As Holyoke marched into the wilderness,
And sweet Mary Pynchon was there (I guess),
With a sigh in her throat and a tear in her eye
As Holyoke marched into the wilderness,
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And the boys were all wondering where they would go,
And what they would meet in the dangerous way;
And the good wives were gossiping to and fro,
And prating and shaking their heads all day
And what they would meet in the dangerous way;
And the good wives were gossiping to and fro,
And prating and shaking their heads all day
Up the bright river they travelled abreast,
Calling each other from bank to bank,
Till the hot sun slowly rolled into the West,
And gilded the mountain-tops where it sank.
Calling each other from bank to bank,
Till the hot sun slowly rolled into the West,
And gilded the mountain-tops where it sank.
They lighted their camp-fires and ate of their fare,
And drank of the water that ran at their feet,
And wrapped in the balm of the cool evening air,
Sank down to a sleep that was dreamless and sweet.
And drank of the water that ran at their feet,
And wrapped in the balm of the cool evening air,
Sank down to a sleep that was dreamless and sweet.
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The great falls roared in their ears all night,
And the sturgeon splashed and the wild-cat screamed,
But they did not wake till the morning light
Red through the willowy branches beamed.
And the sturgeon splashed and the wild-cat screamed,
But they did not wake till the morning light
Red through the willowy branches beamed.
Brief was the toilet and short the grace,
And strong were the viands that broke their fast;
Then onward they pressed till they reached the place
Where the river between two mountains passed.
And strong were the viands that broke their fast;
Then onward they pressed till they reached the place
Where the river between two mountains passed.
Up the rough ledges they clambered amain,
Holyoke and Thomas on either hand,
Till high in mid-passage they paused, and then
They tearfully gazed on a lovely land.
Holyoke and Thomas on either hand,
Till high in mid-passage they paused, and then
They tearfully gazed on a lovely land.
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Down by the Ox-Bow's southerly shore
Licking the wave bowed an antlered buck;
And Northward and Westward a league or more
Stretched the broad meadows of Nonotuck.
Licking the wave bowed an antlered buck;
And Northward and Westward a league or more
Stretched the broad meadows of Nonotuck.
Straight up the river an Indian town
Filled the soft air with its musical hum,
And children's voices were wafted down
From the peaceful shadows of Hockanum.
Filled the soft air with its musical hum,
And children's voices were wafted down
From the peaceful shadows of Hockanum.
Rude little patches of greening maize
Dappled the landscape far and wide,
And away in the North in the sunset's blaze,
Sugar-loaf stood and was glorified!
Dappled the landscape far and wide,
And away in the North in the sunset's blaze,
Sugar-loaf stood and was glorified!
The morning dawned on the double group
Facing each other on opposite shores,
Where ages ago with a mighty swoop
The waters parted the mountain doors.
Facing each other on opposite shores,
Where ages ago with a mighty swoop
The waters parted the mountain doors.
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“Let us christen the mountains,” said Holyoke in glee;
“Let us christen the mountains,” said Thomas again;
“That mountain for you, and this mountain for me!”
And their trusty fellows responded: “Amen!”
“Let us christen the mountains,” said Thomas again;
“That mountain for you, and this mountain for me!”
And their trusty fellows responded: “Amen!”
Then Holyoke buried his palm in the stream,
And tossed the pure spray toward the mountain's brow,
And said, while it shone in the sun's first beam,
“Fair mountain, thou art Mount Holyoke now!”
And tossed the pure spray toward the mountain's brow,
And said, while it shone in the sun's first beam,
“Fair mountain, thou art Mount Holyoke now!”
The sun shone full on the Western height,
When Thomas came up from the crystal tide:
“I name thee Thomas by Christian rite!”
“Thou art Mount Thomas!” they all replied.
When Thomas came up from the crystal tide:
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“Thou art Mount Thomas!” they all replied.
They paused but a moment when rounding a bluff
Shot an Indian's boat with its stealthy oar,
And with strings of wampum and gaudy stuff
They beckoned it in to the Western shore.
Shot an Indian's boat with its stealthy oar,
And with strings of wampum and gaudy stuff
They beckoned it in to the Western shore.
Gracious and brief was the bargain made
By the white man's potent pantomime;
And the delicate boat with its dainty blade
Bore them over the river one man at a time.
By the white man's potent pantomime;
And the delicate boat with its dainty blade
Bore them over the river one man at a time.
There were greetings and jests in every mouth,
And hearty farewells to “Holyoke” and “Tom”:
Then the gleeful men turned their steps due South,
And took a bee line for Agawam.
And hearty farewells to “Holyoke” and “Tom”:
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And took a bee line for Agawam.
They passed Willimansett at noon that day,
And Chicopee just as the sun went down,
And when the last daylight had faded away,
All hungry and weary they entered the town.
And Chicopee just as the sun went down,
And when the last daylight had faded away,
All hungry and weary they entered the town.
Mr. Pynchon demanded a full report,
Which Holyoke wrote for the two commands;
And when he went down to the General Court
He placed it in Governor Winthrop's hands.
Which Holyoke wrote for the two commands;
And when he went down to the General Court
He placed it in Governor Winthrop's hands.
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